Near drowning at Cape St Francis beach

The NSRI St Francis Bay were activated yesterday afternoon by a member of the public reporting that a person was being swept out to sea, at Cape St Francis main beach.

Swell hitting the point at Cape St Francis

A female German tourist had been swimming in relatively calm seas in the surf when she was caught in a rip-current.

NSRI St Francis Bay Duty Coxswain Marc May and NSRI Medics were activated to Cape St Francis main beach, at the same time requesting the assistance of Paramedics from Private Care Ambulance Service, Humansdorp.

Apparently assisted by her husband and others in a tour group, the victim managed to get back to the beach but was exhausted and suffering breathing difficulties with near drowning symptoms.

On arrival at the scene the casualty, Marthina Wondra, 47, from Germany, was found to be lying on the beach at the waters edge exhausted and with breathing difficulties.

NSRI medics treated the patient, monitored her condition and wrapped her in blankets to keep her warm awaiting Paramedics arrival.

NSRI St Francis Bay crew assisted with the extraction of the patient from the beach and transferred the patient to a Private Care ambulance in a stable condition.

The Paramedics stabilised the patient on the scene and transported the patient to hospital for further observation for secondary drowning effects.

It appears that Ms Wondra had swam out too far and did not realise there was a rip-current where they had chosen to swim.